"I put for a general inclination of all mankind a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death" (Hobbes, Leviathan, ch. 11, "Of the difference of manner," p. 66).
Contemporary Civilization
Introduction to Contemporary Civilization in the West
Founded in 1919 as a course on War and Peace Issues, the central purpose of Contemporary Civilization is to introduce students to a range of issues concerning the kinds of communities – political, social, moral, and religious – that human beings construct for themselves and the values that inform and define such communities; the course is intended to prepare students to become active and informed citizens. While readings in this one-year course change from time to time, the factors that lead to adoption of a text always include historical influence, the presentation of ideas of enduring importance, and the demonstrated ability of a text to provoke productive discussion.
Contemporary Civilization Syllabus 2022-2023 (139.04 KB)